Our Latest and Greatest Seminary Challenges

This seminary journey has not been one without struggles and challenges. Any seminary family can understand the financial hardship, the demand of time, and the possible distance it places between them and loved ones. Chris and I have spent special holidays without extended family and missed significant events in the lives of loved ones due to the distance. We have struggled together these three years to make ends meet, sometimes only by the graciousness of others. I have watched him grow and grow and grow and grow in a number of areas - passion, discipline, integrity, and courage among many others. This growth has not come without pain and stumbling at times. It has been a hard road to travel, but we have traveled it together. It has been my greatest privilege to be Chris Ferguson's wife during some of the hardest trials we have ever faced. It only encourages me for the days ahead to look back on what I consider the most blessed days of my entire life. I have truly loved this season.

Chris was made aware just a week or so ago of the details of an opportunity he qualifies for at the seminary called the Southeastern Collegiate Partnership. Because his undergrad was in Biblical Studies, with an evaluation of his college transcript, he is eligible to "test out" of a number of required classes for his degree and receive credit for a fraction of the cost. We were aware of the program when we enrolled at the seminary, but we misunderstood the details and were more or less afraid to pursue it. To be honest, I am still afraid, but then again, I was terrified when he took his first 12 hour semester, and when he started Greek last August, and when he began Hebrew in January... He has more than succeeded in all his efforts. He has absolutely blown me away! 

Chris decided almost immediately upon receiving details of the program that he would be participating. Ironically (or I should say, "By God's grace,"), the deadline for him to test out of any classes is before his final semester. If he passes three tests, which are the only ones he qualifies for that he has not already taken in seminary, he will graduate this December, a semester earlier than we had anticipated. This could obviously save us a lot of money and time. For Chris, it was a no-brainer. For me, it was quite a pickle. I was a thorn in his side for a few days. What if you fail? What if we lose the money? I'm not sure I am ready for you to graduate. What comes after that? Negative Nancy came out of me with a vengeance. Then, as I submitted my thoughts to the Lord, I began to realize His provision in all of this. I began to thank instead of worry. Thank You for this opportunity! Thank You for Your timing! Thank You for my husband's courage! Thank You for my husband's hard work! Thank You for allowing us to see the finish line!

Don't get me wrong. We aren't in the clear yet. Chris has to pay for and take each SCP exam. He registered for his first today - New Testament I. The Assistant Registrar emailed to tell him that he had completed registration and added to her email, "I would spend some time studying for the test since it is the hardest SCP exam." (Thanks a lot, lady!) As you can see, I continue to be tempted to be a discouragement rather than a helpmate. Chris made me so proud because her email didn't phase him in the slightest (at least that he allowed me to see), and he just simply told me that I needed to breathe. Haha! Thanks, boo!

I have to share, too, that Chris completed Hebrew II today. I don't think that I ever updated to let readers know that my boy made an A in Hebrew I. That's what I am talking about! Completing Hebrew II satisfies all his biblical language requirements for graduation. We have overcome this challenge and face a new one...three new ones, actually. Please pray for us! We expect God to do great things!

Punkin' Head

I just realized that I have yet to update my blog about the incredible growing baby inside my belly. Praise the Lord all the choroid plexus cysts are gone just as we had hoped and our doctors had suspected. Checking to make sure allowed us to catch another glimpse of Miss Ellison in the womb at about 28 weeks 5 days. We, of course, are grateful for that!

She is a big baby. Not off the charts or anything, but tracking to be over 9lbs according to the measurements from the ultrasound. Girlfriend's head measured 32 weeks! Her projected weight at that time was around 3lbs 3 or 4oz. I'm measuring right at 31 weeks at 29 weeks 2 days. Of course, measurements can be off, and she can speed up or slow down some in the growth department, but at least at this point, it seems we'll have a chunker on our hands. And what a cute little chunker she'll be!

As you can see from the photo above, for the first time during an ultrasound, she cooperated and sat still long enough for us to get a decent profile shot of our girl. I'm in love already!!

***Update 5/11/12:

An ultrasound of my gallbladder at the hospital somehow came with another full-body scan of Ellison (and it was not a fun experience, but I won't write about that). As of today, she is projecting to weigh 4lbs 4oz according to their measurements, and I am measuring 33 weeks - whoa! Again, measurements can be off (somebody's have to be at this point). Just wanted to offer the latest information we have received on Miss Priss!

Oh and Fergustone is/was definitely a kidney stone and not a gallstone! Praise the Lord!!

Fergustone

(I cannot take credit for the title. A friend emailed me with "fergustone" as the subject line. She is so very clever!)

After walking the dogs Friday evening at 6pm, I felt an unusual "catch" in my back/side. It took very little time for it to be considered what I would call a great pain that stretched from my back all the way to my stomach on the right side right under my rib cage. The slightest pressure on my belly (even touching it) made it worse. Breathing a deep breath was excruciating. I attributed it to muscular pain possibly from walking the dogs or doing the laundry, a task that had created a similar pain earlier in the week but not with this intensity. Ellison was kicking consistently and frequently, so I wasn't really concerned for her safety. I lay in the floor to straighten my back. I swapped sides regularly to attempt to find relief. I even created some unusual, non-existent yoga positions to bring about any kind of comfort. There was nothing but pain.

After going to Dairy Queen for one of our youth's surprise birthday party, I drove home in a very different manner than I had driven to the restaurant. I was now in a panic. The pain had now been constant for over four hours with no relief. To make a really long story just a long story, I told Chris we needed to go to the ER as soon as he walked in from his weekend class at 10:30 that night.

When we entered the ER, the receptionist looked concerned. Let me just offer you the conversation that took place.

Receptionist: "Ummm...You about to have that baby?"
Me: "Uh. I don't think so. I am just having some back..."
Receptionist: "How many weeks are you?"
Me: "Almost 29."
Receptionist: "Aw, naw! We ain't fixin' to have this baby in the ER. We gon' wheel you down to the Women's Pavilion."

She then had a nurse escort me in a wheel chair (and I was grateful - walking hurt!) across the hospital to the Women's Pavilion and Birthing Center, where they proceeded to preregister me, a task that needed to be done but not at 11pm on a Friday night, and admit me. I dressed in one of those awkward nighties that doesn't close up in the back and prepared a urine sample. At this point, I was REALLY freaked out. No one had even asked me what was wrong yet, but everyone was so nice. I was thankful for that.

My nurse positioned monitors on me for us to hear Ellison's heartbeat and detect any contractions. There were none (I could have told them that). After a million questions and lots of laughs upon hearing our incredibly active baby break dance the night away, they finally tested my urine for a kidney infection. No infection, but there was blood. They called my doctor, and she believed I had a kidney stone. I was sent home with no relief. In fact, I am probably more miserable because I can no longer have calcium, which means no tums. I think I would rather take my chances with the kidney stone than battle my heartburn from Hades.

Needless to say, I feel quite icky. I am going to see my doctor tomorrow morning. Prayers during this time are appreciated. I've heard passing a kidney stone is comparable to labor. Let's just consider this practice.

In other news, our first birthing class is tonight. We are beginning a new budget next month; we'll call it "baby budget," and there are some exciting (but scary) opportunities for Chris at the seminary. I would love for you to just mention these on our behalf before the Father. I am one tired, achy, stressed, scared lady. I am also excited, anxious, and blessed, blessed, blessed. This I know.